Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
The University of Maine women’s soccer team was eliminated from the America East Conference Tournament Sunday by Binghamton University in a scoreless semifinal that was decided by a shootout.
After receiving a first round bye, the host Bearcats, seeded second of the six teams that qualified for the playoffs, handed the third seeded Black Bears their second semifinal loss in consecutive seasons. Binghamton will advance to play top seed Boston University in the Championship Game next weekend. UMaine lost to B.U. 1-0 to end last year’s run.
Binghamton (9-6-2, 6-2-1 America East) netted all four of their shootout attempts, while UMaine converted two. UMaine midfielders Kelsey Wilson and Stephanie Frenette-Blais accounted for the Black Bear shootout goals.
UMaine freshman goalkeeper Meagan Price-Leibenzeder made seven saves in the game, while Binghamton outshot UMaine 14-8. Both teams recorded just one shot in the first half. Binghamton keepers Jen McEachron and Erin Imam each played 55 minutes, with Imam making the only two saves required before the shootout.
UMaine finished the season at 9-5-3 (6-2-2 AE). The Black Bears have qualified for the postseason in seven consecutive seasons and have appeared in four America East Conference title games.
Price-Leibenzeder was named to the America East All-Rookie Team, and senior co-captain backs Anjelica Hodgson and Cristina Di Ielsi were named to the All-Conference First and Second Teams, respectively. Senior striker Laura Martel was named Striker of the Year after a conference leading 25-point season on 12 goals and one assist.
In UMaine’s 2-1 Quarterfinal win Thursday against the University of New Hampshire, UNH equalized at 1-1 with 7:59 remaining in regulation to force overtime before Martel converted a cross from sophomore striker Carolyne Nellis 1:46 into the extra frame.
Nellis chased down a feed from senior striker Veronique Fleury in the corner and lifted the centering serve which UNH goalkeeper Ally Yost got a piece of on the way by before Martel booted a confident shot that Yost could not keep on her side of the goal line.
“I knew Martel was going to be there,” Nellis said. “She finished it. A great finish.”
Martel had a game-high five chances on goal in the game, including a low running shot from the top of the penalty box with 29 minutes left in the second half that banged off the left post.
“We made it easy for their goalie (in the first half),” Martel said. “We weren’t getting our crosses away from the goalkeeper, and we were shooting it right at her. We didn’t make it easy on ourselves.”
The Black Bears’ inability to convert an insurance goal left them vulnerable. UNH striker Shaunna Kaplan’s rising shot over the head of Price-Leibenzeder was UNH’s first shot on goal of the half, after UMaine already had 11. Kaplan found an opening in UMaine’s swarming defense to make her offering from the top of the box.
“The goalie was playing out of her box, so I just took advantage of it,” Kaplan said.
The sixth-seeded Wildcats held their own in the first half, despite averaging a goal less per game in the regular season than the Black Bears. Wilson finally broke the stalemate in the 35th minute when the ball pin-balled out of traffic to her at the top right corner of the box, where she squeezed a shot between Yost and the near post.
“I think they were trying to clear it, and I think I just blocked it and it just happened to be there,” Wilson said.
The Black Bears outshot UNH 13-4 in the second half, and Martel’s game-winner was the first shot in overtime.
Price-Leibenzeder stopped five shots in her first career playoff game for the win. Yost made nine saves.
“It’s a lot of pressure, but I give (Price-Leibenzeder) all the credit in the world,” Martel said. “She’s been working hard.”
Bangor Daily News